Mining apparatus having coring and bursting head swingable in horizontal planes



Sept. 4, 1962 J. R. SIBLEY 3,052,454

MINING APPARATUS HAVING CORING AND BURSTING HEAD SWINGABLE IN HORIZONTAL PLANES Original Filed Jan. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

diiorzzeg P 1962 v J. R. SIBLEY 3,052,454

MINING APPARATUS HAVING CORING AND BURSTING HEAD SWINGABLE IN HORIZONTAL PLANES Original Filed Jan. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 12212622201 (757212 R cwze Zy m W aiiarzzey Sept. 4, 1962 3,052,454

MINING ING J. R. SIBLEY APPARATUS HAVING CURING AND BURST ABLE IN HORIZONT 6 0 2 36 e 2 J57 "R 55% aizoz'zwy p 4, 1952 J R SIBLEY 3,052,454

MINING APPARATus' HAIVING CORING AND B T HEAD SWINGABLE IN HORIZONTAL PLAN Original Filed Jan. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Mil; I

J22ve222or: 07222 R 6,231?" aiiaewey 3,052,454 MINING APPARATUS HAVING CORING AND BURSTING HEAD SWINGABLE IN HORIZONTAL PLANES John R. Sibley, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation oft Pennsylvania Continuation of application Ser. No. 266,926, Jan. 17, 1952. This application Dec. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 779,497 18 Claims. (Cl. 2629) This invention relates to a mining and loading apparatus and more particularly to a combined mining and loading machine of the type known as a continuous miner for removing mineral such as coal from a solid mine vein without the use of explosives and for loading the dislodged mineral as mining progresses.

In mining and loading apparatus such as continuous miners of known types, the mineral of a solid mine vein is dislodged either by means of a vertically swingable disintegrating head embodying orbitally movable disintegrating elements such as endless disintegrating chains movable in parallel vertical orbits, or by a rectilinearly movable, horizontal, rotary boring head mechanism. In both types of machines there is usually provided a floor clean-up mechanism or gatherer for gathering the disintegrated mineral from the mine floor and for moving the mineral so gathered onto the conveying means of the machine and such conveying means delivers the mineral received thereby rearwardly of the machine to a convenient point remote from the face. The machine which embodies the vertically swingable, chain type disintegrating head, while effective in dislodging the mineral, has certain disadvantages in that the mineral, under certain conditions, is finely disintegrated and due to the relatively narrow width of the disintegrating head, the latter must be frequently repositioned with respect to the working face. The type of machine which embodies the horizontal rotary boring head mechanism lacks the desired flexibility in operation since it is confined to movement along a rectilinear path and must be repositioned for movement along a parallel path in order to produce a mine passageway or entry of a conventional width. The present invention contemplates improvements over such known types of mining and loading apparatus in that the mineral is dislodged from the solid by cooperating relatively movable rotary disintegrating head devices which are relatively swingable in horizontal planes and which have a coring and core bursting function thereby facilitating dislodgment of the mineral and substantially increasing the lump size obtainable. Also, the machine of the present invention requires relatively few positioning adjustments, and has relatively great flexibility while retaining low height, thereby enabling removal of mineral from the solid in relatively wide places having low head room.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved mining and loading apparatus for dislodging mineral such as coal from a solid mine vein. Another object is to provide an improved mining and loading machine having improved dislodging devices movable in horizontal planes across the coal face. Yet another object is to provide an improved disintegrating head mechanism for a mining and loading machine whereby removal of the mineral from the solid is facilitated. Still another object is to provide an improved mining and loading apparatus embodying a pair of cooperating relatively movable disintegrating head devices which operate in horizontal planes. A further object is to provide an improved disintegrating head device having a coring and core bursting function whereby the mineral is readily removed in relatively large lumps from the solid. A still ts atent O ice further object is to provide an improved core type disintegrating head which may not only be swung laterally to effect its dislodging function but which may also be moved rectilinearly to effect sumping thereof into the solid mine vein. Yet another object is to provide an improved mining and loading apparatus having novel combinations and arrangements of parts. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the improved mining and loading apparatus, with the rearward portion thereof broken away to facilitate illustration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a detail horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2, illustrating the coring and core bursting devices.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view in plan showing the mining and loading apparatus of the preferred embodiment in an operating position in a mine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section, similar to FIG. 5, illustrating a modified embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing the modified apparatus in an operating position in a mine.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic fluid system used with both embodiments.

In both illustrative embodiments of the invention, the improved mining and loading apparatus or so called continuous miner is of the mobile type desirably mounted on a crawler base 1 and having a gathering head generally designated 2 for receiving the dislodged and disintegrated mineral and for moving the same onto a conveying means generally designated 3. The crawler base comprises a base frame 4 mounted on side frames 5 about which endless crawler treads 6 are guided for orbital circulation. These crawler treads may be driven in a manner similar to that disclosed in my copending applica tion, Serial No. 102,996, filed July 5, 1949, now matured into Patent No. 2,798,713, granted July 9, 1957, to effect propulsion, maneuvering and steering of the machine.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive, a disintegrating head mechanism generally designated 8 is pivotally mounted on the base to swing in vertical planes. This disintegrating head mechanism comprises a rearward supporting frame 9 pivotally mounted on a horizontal transverse axis in side housings 10 carried at the sides of the base frame, and pivotally mounted on the tiltable frame 9 is a pair of cooperating relatively movable supporting frames or arms 11 mounted to swing about parallel axes spaced equidistantly from the longitudinal median line of the machine and disposed at right angles to the pivotal axis of the tiltable frame 9. These supporting frames 11 extend forwardly in advance of the base and'at their outer extremities carry rotary core forming and core bursting head devices 12 which project laterally from the opposite sides of the frames. Also carried by the base frame at the outer sides thereof are motors 13, herein desirably electric motors, which serve individually to drive the rotary head devices as hereinafter explained. Extending between the base frame and the outer sides of the tiltable frames 11 in horizontal planes either apart or inwardly toward one another and for rigidly holding the frames 11 in adjusted position. The conveying means 3' comprises a conventional circulating flight conveyor 17 guided along a troughlike frame 18 extending longitudinally of the base intermediate the motors 13 and beneath the dis integrating head mechanism and arranged at the forward end of the inclined front portion of the conveyor frame is the gathering head 2. This gathering head may assume any conventional form and herein comprises guide bars 19 mounted at the opposite sides of the front receiving portion of the conveyor and providing guideways about their margins along which endless gathering chains 20 are guided for orbital circulation. These gathering chains have lateral flights 21 which engage the loose or disintegrated mineral on the mine floor and move the same onto the conveyor. These gathering chains for illustrative purposes may be driven by conventional fluid motors 22 through suitable speed reducing gearings. The forward portion of the conveyor frame is pivoted at 23 to tilt in vertical planes and a fluid jack 24 serves to tilt this frame to effect raising or lowering of the gathering head 2 with respect to the mine floor, and to hold the gathering head in'raisedposition above the floor during tramming of the. machine.

Now referring to the specific structure of the rotary disintegrating head devices 12, it Will be noted that the outer portions 25 of the swingable frames 11 have hollow circular bearing supports 26 projecting laterally in opposite directions and which support bearings 27 on which rotary heads 28 are mounted for rotation on horizontal axes. Each head has a circular head frame 2 9 provided with an integral shaft 30 which extends axially through the associated bearing support 26. The inner portion of each shaft '30 is journaled in a. bearing 31 supported within the associated bearing support, and fixed to the inner end of each shaft at the inner side of the frame 11 is 'a chain sprocket 32 The circular'head frames have laterally projecting arms 33 which carry detachable cutters 34 and arranged centrally within each head frame inwardly of the lateral cutter arms is a cone-shaped portion or bursting wedge 35 having a detachable drill point or bit 36 formed with spiral vanes 37. The arms not only carry end cutters but also side cutters extending along the periphery of the head. The outer circular portions 38 of the armlike frames 11 have wedge shaped or triangular portions 39 at their outer sides providing sharp penetrating edges 40 whereby when the head devices are fed forwardly rectilinearly during the sumping operationthe core or projection of mineral remaining between the inner cutters of the head devices may be broken off. The side cutters of the head devices cut into the solid mineral during the sumping operation and when the heads are swung laterally from their sumped position the end cutters of the cutter arms 33 of the rotary heads out out cores of mineral and, as the heads are swung, the drill bits 36 form holes centrally in the cores to receive the bursting wedges 3 5 which apply powerful breaking pressures to the cores to effect dislodgment of the latter.

The driving means for the rotary head devices may assume various forms but herein comprise bevel gears '45 connected to the forward ends of the longitudinal shafts of the motors 13, and these bevel gears mesh with and drive bevel gears 46 fixed to the outer ends of aligned horizontal shafts 4-7 which extend transversely of the base frame and which are suitably journaled in the side housings 10. Secured to the inner end portions of these shafts 47 are bevel gears 48 which mesh with and drive bevel gears 49' secured to the lower ends of parallel upright shafts 50 suitably journaled within the tiltable frame 9. Keyed to the upper ends of the shafts 50 are spur gears 51 which drive, through intermediate gears 52, spur gears 53 keyed to the upper ends of upright shafts 54' arranged parallel with the shafts 50 in advance of the latter. Secured to the shafts 54 are spur gears 55 which drive, through intermediate gears 56, spur gears 57 secured to upright shafts 58 likewise suitably journaled within the armlike frames 11. Secured to the upper ends of the shafts 58 are bevel gears 59 meshing with and driving bevel gears 60 secured to horizontal shafts 61 suitably journaled within bearings supported within the armlike frames 11. These shafts are inclined inwardly and extend generally longitudinally of the frames 11 and are suitably journaled within bearings supported by the frames respectively. The shafts 61 are connected by universal couplings 62 to horizontal, longitudinally extending shafts 63 likewise suitably journaled within the frames 11. Secured to these shafts are worms 64 meshing with and driving worm wheels 65 secured to transverse horizontal shafts 66 suitably journaled Within the frames 11 respectively. Secured to the inner ends of the shaft 66 at the inner sides of the frames 11 are chain sprockets 67 which engage and drive endless chains 63, the latter in turn engaging and driving the chain sprockets 3 2. From the foregoing, it is evident that the rotary disintegrating head devices 12 may be driven by the motors 13 through the independent driving connections above described, with one motor individual to the drive of each head device.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, one of the coring head devices 12 is omitted and in lieu thereof, there is journaled on a hollow bearing support 26 carried by one of the armlike frames 11, a narrow, circular, rotary cutter head 70 carrying peripheral cutters 71. This head has an axial shaft 72 which is journaled in a bearing 73 suitably supported within the hollow bearing support 26. The shaft 72 has a chain sprocket 32 fixed thereto and this rotary head is driven in a manner similar to that of the preferred embodiment. Arranged coaxially with the head is a circular thrust plate 74 journaled on a projecting end of the shaft 72 and thrust bearings 75 are arranged between the plate and the head frame. Otherwise, this embodiment is similar to that above described.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10, a pump has its suction side connected by a conduit 81 to a liquid reservoir or tank 82 and the discharge side of this pump is connected by conduit 83 to the pressure passage of a valve box 84 of a conventional slide valve mechanism. The "discharge passage of the valve box is connected by a conduit 85 back to the tank 82. The valve box is provided with parallel bores which respectively receive slide valves 86, 87 and 88 having usual manual control handles. The bore containing the slide valve 86 is connected by conduits 89 and 94 to the opposite ends of the cylinders of the fluid jacks 14 which serve to swing the disintegrating head mechanism in vertical planes. The bore containing the slide valve 87 is connected by a conduit 91 to the cylinder of the tilting jack 24 for elevating the gathering head 2. The bore containing the slide valve 88 is connected by conduits 92 and 93 to the opposite ends of the cylinder of the fluid jack 15 for swinging the head devices 12 horizontally relative to each other. The slide valves may be positioned by the operator to effect fluid supply to or exhaust of fluid from the, cylinders and to trap fluid in the cylinders to hold the parts moved thereby in adjusted position. A similar fluid system is associated with the head structure of the modified embodiment.

The mode of operation of the apparatus of the preferred embodiment is as follows: The machine may be trainmed about the mine under the propulsion of the crawler treads 6 and when properly positioned with respect to the working face centrally between the ribs, as shown in FIG. 6, the slide valve 86 may be positioned by the operator toeifect supply of fluid under pressure tothe fluid jacks 14 thereby to swing the rotary disintegrating heads 12 downwardly into positions in adjacency to the floor level. The motors 13 may then be started thereby to effect rapid rotation of the rotary heads, and the crawler treads may then be driven to propel the machine bodily forwardly to eifect feeding of the peripheral side cutters of the rotary heads rectilinearly into the mine vein near the floor level. When the rotary heads assume their sumped position as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6, the slide valve 88 may be positioned by the operator to effect supply of fluid under pressure to the fluid jack 1'5, thereby to swing the armlike frames 11 horizontally in opposite directions about their pivots thereby to move the rotary heads 12 horizontally across the face along arcuate paths. As the rotary heads 12 are swung horizontally about their pivots, the end cutters at the outer ends of the arms 33 cut out circular cores of mineral and such cores are dislodged by the bursting wedges 35. During the sumping and swinging operations above described, the dislodged mineral drops down between the spaced cutter arms 33 and falls to the mine floor where it is gathered by the gathering chains 20 of the gathering head and moved rearwardly onto the conveying means of the machine. When the transverse cut at the floor level, designated A in FIG. 7, is completed the slide valve 86 may be positioned by the operator to supply fluid under pressure to the fluid jacks 14 thereby to swing the disintegrating head mechanism upwardly about its pivot to locate the rotary head devices 12 at the next higher level and the rotary heads are then again operated by sumping and swinging movements to dislodge a horizontal segment from the solid vein, at a higher zone as indicated in dotted lines at B in FIG. 7. Thereafter the disintegrating head mechanism may be swung upwardly to the roof level to form an upper transverse cut, at a still higher zone as indicated in dotted lines at C in FIG. 7, thereby to complete the removal of the section of mineral from the working face. The crawler treads may then be operated to propel the machine bodily forwardly to a new cutting position and the operations above described may be repeated.

In the modified embodiment, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9, the rotary disintegrating heads 12 and 70, when in central adjacency, may be sumped into the face of the mine vein near the floor level, and when in sumped position the operator may manipulate the slide valve 88 to supply fluid under pressure to the fluid jack 15 thereby to swing the rotary coring head 12. horizontally about its pivot relative to the circular disintegrating head '70. During this operation, the rotary head 7 remains stationary as regards horizontal swinging movement with the reaction plate 74 resting against a surface S of the mine vein inwardly of the face so that the swinging further imparted to the rotary coring head 12 by the jack 15 reacts against the relatively stationary head 70 and its supporting frame. When the initial cut is completed, the tractor base may be operated to retract the rotary heads 12 and 70 from the vein and thereafter the heads 12 and 70 may be swung laterally by turning the tractor base into the position indicated in dotted lines at D in FIG. 9 and the machine may then be advanced by the tractor base to make a sumping cut near the right hand rib. Thereafter the rotary coring head 12 may be swung horizontally about its pivot while the rotary head 7 0 remains in abutting contact with the mine vein thereby to complete the cut. As in the preferred embodiment, the rotary heads 12 and 70 may be adjusted to diflferent operating levels by the elevating jacks 14 controlled by the slide Valve 86. As in the preferred embodiment the dislodged and disintegrated mineral which falls to the mine floor may be gathered by the gathering head and loaded onto the conveying means of the machine.

In both illustrative embodiments of the invention, instead of turning the tractor base to vary the angular position of the disintegrating heads and for driving the tractor treads to feed the disintegrating heads with respect to the face of the mine vein, the tiltable support 9 for the armlike head frames 11 may be mounted on a horizontal slide carried by a turntable on the base in the manner disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 102,996, above referred to. With such a construction, the turntable may be rotated to position the disintegrating heads horizontally relative to the base while the latter remains stationary and the slide may be moved horizontally relative to the turntable to sump the heads into the mine vein in the manner fully described in the above mentioned copending application.

As a result of this invention, an improved mining and loading apparatus is provided which is relatively efl'icient and flexible in operation and which is extremely low in height. By the provision of the rotary disintegrating heads which may be sumped in unison into the mineral of the mine vein and which may thereafter be swung apart the mineral may be rapidly and efficiently dislodged from the solid mine vein. By the provision of the rotary coring heads and the bursting wedges for the cores, the mineral may be rapidly dislodged from the solid mine vein in relatively large lumps. The machine is relatively simple and rugged in design, well adapted for its intended purpose. Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 266,926, filed January 17, 1952, now abandoned.

While there are in this application specifically described two forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comp-rising a mobile base, a frame mounted on said base to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, a pair of relatively swingable armlike frames pivotally mounted on said tiltable frame to swing relative thereto in horizontal planes about axes arranged at right angles to said horizontal axis, and oppositely projecting rotary drilling and disintegrating heads having peripheral side cutters and end core cutters and adapted to penetrate deeply the mineral of a solid mine vein, said heads cooperating to remove an arcuate horizontal segment of mineral from a solid mine vein and having their axes of rotation extending transversely and confined to horizontal planes, said heads carried at the outer extremities of said armlike frames, said head axes, when said heads have deeply penetrated the vein, lying inside of the face and said axes disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said armlike frames, said heads each comprising rotary core cutting means embodying said end core cutters for forming a circular core of mineral along an arcuate path during lateral swing of said head and core breaker means arranged within each head for breaking the cores as cutting progresses to remove an arcuate segment .of mineral from the face, said core cutting means being disposed at the remote ends of said heads and said breaker means of said heads respectively acting in relatively opposite directions, said armlike frames providing for movement of said heads deeply into the mine vein to locate said head axes inside of the face as aforesaid, said armlike frames being swingable to move said heads between positions Wherein said heads are relatively close together and positions wherein said heads are located far apart substantial distances beyond the sides of said base, said peripheral cutters of said heads as the latter are advanced toward the face deeply penetrating the mineral of the solid mine vein and said end core cutters as said heads are swung apart serving to cut away the face with a rotary boring action to form an arcuate recess extending across the face, the outer end portions of said armlike frames entering the recess formed by said heads when the latter are in vein-penetrating positions.

2. In a mining apparatus of the character disclosed, an elongated armlike frame mounted to swing horizontally about an upright axis and supporting lateral bearing means at its outer portion, means for swinging said armlike frame about its axis, a rotary core cutting and disintegrating head journaled on said bearing means to rotate on a horizontal transverse axis relative to said armlike frame, said head projecting laterally from said armlike frame at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said frame, said head carrying along its length peripheral cutting means movable in circular orbits about the head axis and said head movable bodily longitudinally without endwise movement to cause said peripheral cutting means to cut into the mineral of a mine vein, and said head movable endwise along an arcuate path upon swinging of saidarmlike frame to remove a horizontal segment of mineral from a solid mine vein, said core cutting means forming a core of mineral as said head is swung horizontally, a core breaker arranged within said head for dislodging the core as it is formed, and means for bodily moving said head while it remains stationary as regards endwise movement.

3. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising supporting means, a pair of elongated armlike frames pivotally mounted on said supporting means to swing horizontally with respect thereto and to each other, bearing supports carried at the outer portions of said frames, oppositely extending, hollow, rotary drilling and disintegrating heads journaled on said bearing supports at the opposite sides of said frames respectively on horizontal transversely extending axes disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said frames, and means for swinging said frames simultaneously to move said heads in relatively opposite directions along horizontal arcuate paths to remove horizontal arcuate segments of mineral from a solid mine vein, said heads having peripheral teeth along their lengths to permit said heads upon longitudinal movement of said frames to be sumped into the mineral of a solid mine vein in directions generally at right angles to the horizontal transverse axes of rotation of said heads, said heads when in sumped positions having face cutters at their remote ends for dislodging, as said frames are swung horizontally, the mineral of the solid vein along horizontal arcuate paths to effect such removal of the arcuate segments of mineral.

4. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said end face cutters are arranged at the periphery of said head and serve to cut out cores of mineral along horizontal arcuate paths as said heads are swung horizontally as aforesaid, and core breakers are provided within said heads and act relatively oppositely for dislodging the cores as the latter are formed.

5. A core cutting head as set forth in claim 4 wherein said core cutters are carried bydiametrically opposite, laterally projecting spaced arms on said head having spaces therebetween for discharging the mineral dislodged by said core breakers from said head between said arms outwardly from the'face of the mine vein.

6. A cutting head as set forth in claim 5 wherein said arms have cutters along the outer sides thereof at the head periphery to permit said head to be fed rectilinearly into the mineral of a solid mine vein in a direction generally at right angles to the axis of head rotation.

7. A cutting head as set forth in claim 6 wherein said head is moved endwise along an arcuate path generally in the direction of its axis of rotation during the lateral dislodging operation.

8. In a mining apparatus, a pair of rotary drilling and disintegrating heads having end drilling and side disintegrating cutters movable in circular orbits about the axes of head rotation respectively, a pair of armsspivoted to swing horizontally toward and from one another about upright axes and by which said heads are respectively carried, said heads disposed in close spaced apart relation when said arms are close together, means for moving said arms when in said close together positions bodily toward the face of a mine vein to sump said head-side-cutters into the mine vein, and means for swinging said arms horizontally apart about said upright axes to cause said headend-cuttters to cut and break away arcuate segments from the mine vein, said arms having upright splitting portions at their outer extremities intermediate said heads for engaging and breaking away the section of mineral between said heads as the latter are moved bodily toward the face during sumping.

9. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base, a frame mounted on said base to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, a pair of relatively swingable armlike frames pivotally mounted on said tiltable frame to swing relative thereto in horizontal planes about axes arranged at right angles to said horizontal axis, and oppositely projecting rotary drilling disintegrating heads cooperating to remove an arcuate horizontal segment of mineral from a solid vein and having their axes of rotation extending transversely and confined to horizontal planes, said heads carried at the outer extremities of said armlike frames, said head axes disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said armlike frames, said rotary drilling and disintegrating heads each comprising a rotary core cutting means for forming a core of mineral along an arcuate path during lateral swing of said head, and core breaker means arranged within each head for breaking the cores as cutting progresses to remove an arcuate segment of mineral from the face, said core cutting means disposed at the remote ends of said heads and said breaker means acting in opposite directions, said rotary heads also having peripheral cutting means along their lengths to permit said heads to be sumped rectilinearly into the mine vein in directions extending generally lengthwise of said armlike frames at right angles to the axes of rotation of said heads.

10. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising supporting means, a pair of elongated armlike frames pivotally mounted on said supporting means to swing horizontally with respect thereto and to each other, bearing supports carried at the outer portions of said frames, oppositely extending, hollow, rotary drilling and disintegrating heads having front peripheral cutters and side boring cutters for deeply penetrating the mineral of a solid mine vein, said heads journaled on said bearing supports at the opposite sides of said frames respectively on horizontal transversely extending axes disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axes of said frames, and means for swinging said frames simultaneously to move said heads in relatively opposite directions along horizontal arcuate paths to drill out with a rotary boring action relatively deep slots in the face of the mine vein to remove a horizontal arcuate segment of mineral from the face, said heads when in positions to remove said segments from the face deeply penetrating the mineral with their axes lying inside of the face, said armlike frames on which said heads are journaled providing for movement of said heads deeply into the vein to locate said head-axes inside of the face as aforesaid.

11. In combination, a supporting frame movable forwardly toward the face of a mine vein and horizontally transversely across the face, cutter means carried by said frame at its outer portion and having an orbitally moving core forming cutting element provided with peripheral and end cutters and having an open center for receiving a core, said cutting element movable forwardly with said frame into sumped position within the mine vein to cause said peripheral cutters to cut into the mineral while said cutting element remains stationary as regards transverse movement and movable transversely with said frame to cause said end cutters to cut a core of mineral from the 9 mine vein between the sides of the face, and means for moving said supporting frame together with said cutter means as aforesaid.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cutter means comprises a pair of parallel orbitally moving core cutting elements each having .a supporting frame and one of said cutting elements operating to cut a core upon continuous unidirectional movement in one direction and the other to cut a core upon continuous unidirectional movement in the opposite direction and movable simultaneously with said frames into sumped position within the mine vein while remaining stationary as regards transverse movement and movable with said frames simultaneously transversely of the face, both of said cutting elements provided with peripheral and end cutters with said end cutters disposed at the remote faces of said cutting elements.

13. In a mining apparatus, a disintegrating head mechanism for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein comprising a unidirectional rotary boring head structure disposable with its axis horizontal and extending generally transversely of the apparatus, said head structure supported solely at its inner end with its outer end projecting freely outwardly therefrom and having end boring cutters and a series of closely laterally spaced peripheral cutters exteriorly along its length, said end boring and peripheral cutters movable in circular orbits about the head-axis to make annular cuts as said head structure rotates about its axis, means for mounting said head structure for bodily forward movement in a direction generally at right angles to its axis of rotation and for lateral swinging movement endwise continuously unidirectionally in a generally axial direction between opposed positions, means for moving said mounting means to feed said head structure continuously in a forward direction, while said head structure remains stationary as regards axial movement, generally longitudinally of the apparatus to sump the series of closely laterally shaped peripheral cutters of said rotary head structure deeply into the face of the mine vein with a major portion of said head structure penetrating the mineral of the mine vein and with the head-axis lying inside of the face to: provide a relatively deep cut, said head mounting means providing for movement of said head deeply into the mine vein to locate said head axis inside of the face as aforesaid, and means for thereafter swinging said mounting means continuously unidirectionally axially from its sumped position to feed said rotary head structure laterally as aforesaid to cause said end boring cutters which move in circular orbits to cut a ker-f to form an arcuate recess inside of the face, and said head mechanism effecting disintegration of the cut mineral from the solid vein.

14. A mining apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said rotary boring head structure comprises a pair of coacting, relatively movable, rotary drilling and disintegrating head members disposed on spaced horizontal transverse axes and each having end boring cutters and closely laterally spaced peripheral side cutters, said end boring cutters disposed at the outer free ends of said head members and said swinging means includes means for swinging said head members continuously unidirectionally horizontally endwise in relatively Opposite directions each between opposed positions during operation of said end boring cutters to effect boring, and said head members effecting lateral disintegration of the cut mineral.

15. In a mining and loading apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base, a frame mounted on said base to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto about a horizontal axis, a pair of relatively swingable armlike frames pivotally mounted on said tiltable frame to swing relative thereto in horizontal planes about axes arranged at right angles to said horizontal axis, and

oppositely projecting rotary drilling and disintegrating heads projecting oppositely respectively from said armlike frames with projecting free outer portions, said heads, having closely laterally spaced peripheral side cutters and end boring cutters for penetrating deeply the mineral of a solid mine vein, said heads cooperating to remove an arcuate horizontal segment of mineral from a solid vein and in certain positions of said armlike frames having their axes of rotation extending transversely of the working face and confined to movement in horizontal planes, said heads carried at the outer extremities of said armlike frames respectively, said head axes, when said heads have deeply penetrated the vein, being in axial alignment and lying inside of the face and said axes disposed normal to the longitudinal axes of said armlike frames, said armlike frames providing for movement of said heads deeply into the mineral vein while said heads remain stationary as regards axial movement to locate said axes inside of the face as aforesaid, said armlike frames being swingable to move said heads continuously unidirectionally axially between their sumped positions wherein said heads are relatively close together and outer positions wherein said heads are located far apart substantial distances beyond the sides of said base, said closely laterally spaced peripheral side cutters of said axially stationary heads as the latter are advanced generally longitudinally toward the face deeply penetrating the mineral of the solid mine vein and said end boring cutters as said heads are swung axially apart serving to bore away the face with a rotary boring action to form an arcuate recess extending across the face, the uter end portions of said armlike frames entering the recess formed by said heads when the latter are in axially stationary vein-penetrating positions.

16. A mining apparatus comprising, in combination, a support, a pair of cooperating oppositely extending cutting and dislodging heads having projecting free outer ends, said heads having end boring cutters and closely laterally spaced peripheral side cutters for cutting both sidewise and endwise, means for mounting said heads solely at their inner ends on said support for horizontal movement from a position of close coaxial adjacency near the longitudinal center of the apparatus to positions substantial distances beyond the sides of said support at the opposite sides of the mine passageway in which the apparatus is operating, means for advancing said heads when in their positions of close adjacency generally longitudinally toward the face of a solid mine vein while said heads remain coaxial and stationary as regards axial movement to cause said heads deeply to penetrate the mineral of the mine vein with the major portions of said heads lying inside of the face, said end boring cutters as said heads are moved each continuously and unidirectionally axially horizontally apart across the face forming arcuate recesses within the mineral, and means operative when said heads are in their deeply face-penetrating positions for moving said heads continuously horizontally apart to disintegrate the mineral completely across the face, said mounting means for said heads providing for such deep penetration of said heads into the mine vein while said heads are axially stationary so that the axes of head rotation lie inside the face.

17. In a mining apparatus, a base movable along a path normal to a working face of a mine vein, a pair of arm structures pivotally mounted on said base to swing horizontally relative thereto about parallel vertical axes spaced equidistantly at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of said base, unidirectional rotary cutter heads journaled at the outer portions of said arm structures respectively on horizontal axes extending transversely of said arm structures normal to the pivotal axes of said arm structures, said heads supported solely by said arm structures at their inner end portions adjacent said arm structures and projecting oppositely freely respectively from said arm structures with their outer free portions spaced outwardly therefrom, said heads carrying closely laterally spaced peripheral cutters and end boring cutters, means for moving said arm structures generally endwise longitudinally of the base to sump said heads when the latter are coaxial and closely together into the mineral of the mine vein with a continuous straight line forward sumping motion, said heads remaining stationary as regards axial movement during the sumping operation with said closely laterally spaced peripheral cutters cutting away the mineral to provide openings in the mineral to receive said heads, and means for swinging said arm structures horizontally in relatively opposite directions relative to said base to move said heads axially widely apart from the sumped positions within the mineral, said heads moving axially continuously unidirectionally between opposed positions to cause said boring cutters to bore away the mineral along opposed arcuate paths, said swinging means causing said arm structures as they swing apart to move said heads to wide apart positions beyond the opposite sides of said base wherein their axes of rotation are relatively inclined at substantial angles.

18. A mining apparatus comprising a mobile base, a pair of arm structures; pivotally mounted on said base with their outer portions extending in advance of said base and arranged to swing in horizontal and vertical planes relative thereto, means for swinging said arm structures simultaneously in relatively opposite directions in horizontal planes about their pivots, rotary core cutting heads carried at the outer ends of said arm structures in advance of said base and arranged on horizontal axes normal to the longitudinal axes of said arm structures, and means for rotating said core cutting heads, said head axes when said arm structures are relatively close together being in alignment, and said heads having end core cutters for cutting out cores of mineral across the face of a mine vein as the outer portions of said arm structures are swung simultanteously in relatively opposite directions in horizontal planes, said heads being circular at their inner portions and having outwardly projecting arms carrying closely laterally spaced peripheral cutters in addition to said end core cutters, and said closely laterally spaced peripheral cutters, when said heads are close together in axial alignment and are simultaneously advanced toward the work, cutting out the mineral to sump said heads into the mine vein, said heads being swingable horizontally apart from their sumped position to cause said core cutters to cut out said cores of mineral across the face of the mine vein as aforesaid, said core cutting heads being centrally open to receive the cores formed thereby, said heads when said arm structures are wide apart disposed at the ribs beyond the sides of said base with their axes of rotation inclined at substantial angles, the outer portions of said arm structures being swingable in vertical planes to elevate said heads to vary the height of cut.

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